The World’s “Water Warriors”

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We, the creators of the Blue Roots Project, found ourselves over a year ago beginning to explore the water space. For most of us, the freshwater crisis was something we had heard of, but not exactly a cause that was on our radars.

Early on in the process of creating Blue Roots Project we found we weren’t alone among those in our age group and demographic in not understanding the depth and breadth of the water crisis. We would also discover a world of challenges related to water (like water delivery infrastructure, quality, management of water systems, politics surrounding access to water) and experts, scientists, nonprofits and individuals who work every day addressing those challenges. However, we found that just as many interest groups are working against these efforts, for one reason or another.

That is why we’ve begun to call these advocates in the water space “water warriors.” It’s not unique to us or this project, but it’s accurate in how seriously these folks take their work in the water space. Sifting through this week’s submissions reminded me of this term, as so many of our submissions were from water warriors or were highlighting their work.

Women warriors

Women are such an important group as it relates to water, both as water warriors and as a group that bears much of the burden of a lack of access to clean water. With International Women’s Day last week, we saw many inspiring posts about women water warriors. Here’s one from the Groundwater Foundation:

Water warriors assist Ugandan community

Sembera Simon created this presentation to share a story about Tusenvule working with a small community in Uganda to rehabilitate a water source that was previously filled with algae.

Water workshop

Melinda Alfano shared a photo of herself with Sarabeth B. Brockley and Lydia Slack following a water workshop and time in the Dead Sea.

Running warrior

Water issues have an advocate in Miss Central Indiana’s Outstanding Teen Delaney Jackson, who shared a photo of herself after the Mill Race Marathon in Columbus, Indiana. Money raised benefited World Vision, an NGO that works to bring clean water to people around the world.

Warrior point of view

As water warriors, artists and creatives bring a valuable perspective to the water conversation, providing glimpses of water in its most beautiful state or even when it’s scary or ugly. Wetlands and water photographer Paul Stewart shared his water story with a piece in a series he’s working on about viewpoints.